Political Director

UNITE HERE/Culinary Workers Union, Local 226

Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent over 57,000 workers and their families in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of the casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas. UNITE HERE represents 270,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America.

The Culinary Union is Nevada’s largest immigrant organization - a diverse membership that is approximately 55% women and 56% Latino. Members -who work as guest room attendants, bartenders, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, and kitchen workers- come from 173 countries and speak over 40 different languages. The Culinary Union has been fighting for fair wages, job security, and good health benefits for working men and women in Nevada for over 83 years.

The Culinary Union is hiring a Political Director to collaborate with the Union’s leadership and lead political efforts. The focus of the position is to develop the leadership and political power of hospitality workers in Nevada, build, strengthen, and support relationships and coalitions among faith, labor, civil rights, community, and immigrant rights groups, and win elections and policy changes that improve the lives of workers.

Responsibilities (included but not limited to):

Develop and implement strategies for political leverage in worksite and community campaigns, including engaging elected officials, local and state government, and community organizations.

Supervise and manage electoral campaigns and GOTV operations, including canvassing and phone banking. Assist in database management, including but not limited to, creating and monitoring a database of community and political contacts.

Coordinate with elected Culinary Union leadership and assigned campaign staff to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with elected officials, community/immigrant rights organizations, labor organizations, and allies throughout Nevada.

Coordinate programs and logistics for public political events and large-scale mobilizations.

Represent Culinary Union and International Union Political Department at meetings and conferences when necessary.

Provide staff support to Culinary Union and to International Union projects when necessary, including but not limited to contract, organizing, and NLRB election campaigns; electoral work and membership development.

Work with elected Leadership and International Union Political Department to help further build Culinary Union Political Department by having the Political Director’s involvement in the hiring and management of additional staff. Job Requirements/Qualifications:

Commitment to improving the lives of workers in Nevada.

At least 2-3 years’ experience doing political work, including electoral campaigns and targeting, strategic campaigning for organizing and contracts, and GOTV operations.

Strong interpersonal, organizational, and presentation skills.

Experience with conducting trainings, workshops, and public actions with small and large groups, in worksite and community settings.

Experience in union or community organizing and managing meetings and conferences for staff and rank and file members.